Treadmills

I realize that many will disagree with me here but I am convinced that treadmills are some of the best pieces of exercise equipment out there. They are elegant in their simplicity and help us do the most simple of exercises. We are built to walk and run and this will remain the best way to take weight off, despite what the so called Gurus say. You can do all of the full body exercises in the world but there will never be a substitute for walking or running.

Personally I have watched my weight fluctuate based on how far I have to walk in a given day. Not so much based on my diet or exercise but based on my lifestyle of walking. No wonder Americans are fat, we attempt to remove walking at every turn. Drive throughs, walkscelators, and remote controls. I realize that walking or running is not always practical and in those cases treadmills can come in very handy. There will never be a substitute for hitting the trail or the sidewalk, but a treadmill is the next best thing.

I know from experience that treadmills can be one of the most boring pieces of exercise equipment out there, that is why you have to make it interesting. Don’t stare at the wall while you are on a treadmill, watch TV, listen to podcasts, do something. Technology makes this easy. If you need a bluetooth headset get one, if you need a noise canceling headset so you can hear get one. If you are still bored change it up. I find that I need to be watching a certain type of TV show to hold my interest. Music doesn’t do it for me, podcast on occasion, but they have to be exceptionally interesting.

I am the poster child for someone who gets bored on a treadmill but I haver figured out that there is a way around that boredom and that has lead me to train for a marathon almost exclusively on a treadmill.

So, in my opinion treadmills rock. I know many people think I am crazy but when I compare my waist line with theirs I know who the crazy ones are. Treadmills can be your best friend or your worst enemy, what you do with this exercise equipment is up to you.